MEBAA working party underway to resolve regulatory compliance issues

The inaugural business aviation regulation working group took place on the 25th of January 2015 at the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) headquarters in Dubai, less than two months after the initiative was announced.
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This working group was developed as part of MEBAA’s efforts to alleviate U.A.E. operators’ burden in compliance efforts with GCAA regulations, and encouraging operators to discuss the challenges they face in complying with the current regulations, which, the organization said, were originally designed to primarily serve the airlines.
H.E. Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, director of GCAA had called for the formation of a working group to serve as catalyst for the MEBAA initiative to draft business aviation regulations during the 2014 MEBAA Show in December.
Operator companies in attendance were Abu Dhabi Aviation, Aerogulf Services Co (L.L.C), Al Jaber Aviation, Empire Aviation Group, Execujet Middle East, Falcon Aviation Services, Gama Aviation, Gulf Wings, Heli Dubai, Jet Ops, Midex Airlines, Private Affairs Bureau (PAB), Royal Jet, and Unique Air.
The founding chairman of MEBAA, Mr. Ali Ahmed Al Naqbi, addressed attending operators and MEBAA members above to encourage this initiative as set by the GCAA and to confirm MEBAA’s commitment to its members, the GCAA, and the business aviation community in the U.A.E., saying that it echoed MEBAA’s mission to be the voice of its members in bridging the gap between them and the designated authorities.
“On behalf of MEBAA and its members, I would like to express my appreciation for GCAA’s continuous support, as we work diligently to ensure the sustainable and organic growth of the business aviation industry in the UAE.” He said. “Our collaboration, along with the operators’ invaluable input and participation; will guarantee each operators’ success and will hopefully serve as an example for other countries’ authorities and operators to follow, for the purpose of serving the region’s business aviation industry as a whole.”
The next meeting is scheduled for February in the same location.

PICTURED: Ali Al Naqbi, MEBAA'S FOUNDING CHAIRMAN